Enhanced IgE antibody production in mice injected with fly ash.

The adjuvant effect of fly ash injected via various routes on IgE antibody production was examined in mice. Primary anti-ovalbumin (OA) IgE antibody production was induced by intratracheal and intraperitoneal injection with fly ash and OA, but not by the intragastric route. Both the intratracheal and the intraperitoneal routes showed similar efficiency in inducing IgE antibody production. High secondary anti-OA IgE antibody response by exposure to aerosolized OA was also observed in mice primed with intratracheal instillation of fly ash plus OA. The activity to induce IgE antibody production by fly ash instillation was almost the same as that by aluminum silicate, studied previously. Primary and secondary anti-OA IgG antibody production was also stimulated by intratracheal instillation of fly ash. These results suggest that fly ash has an adjuvant activity in the induction of IgE and IgG antibody production in mice.